RAMS PICKED SECOND IN PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
Dos Santos, Dittrich look to lead Rams into CAA title contention

RICHMOND, Va. – With seven of its starting 11 returning, the Virginia Commonwealth University men’s soccer team will be a force in the Colonial Athletic Association and that was reiterated today as the Black and Gold were selected second in the CAA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Led by seniors Gerson Dos Santos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and Dirk Dittrich (Stuttgart, Germany) and longtime Head Coach Tim O’Sullivan, the Rams will bring lots of offensive firepower and a suffocating back line to the pitch.

VCU finished just nine points behind perennial CAA power Old Dominion, followed by Drexel in third, Hofstra in fourth and Towson in fifth. James Madison earned the sixth spot followed by William & Mary, George Mason, Northeastern, UNC Wilmington, Delaware and Georgia State, respectively.

Dos Santos was the man in the middle for the Rams last season as the midfielder earned All-CAA first team honors with seven goals, three of which were game-winners, and two assists for a total of 16 points.

Dittrich was the stalwart of the defense that allowed just 0.90 goals per game and notched seven total shutouts. He also found the back of the net on one occasion as well as earning All-CAA second team honors and NSCAA/Adidas Academic All-American recognition.

The front line will be led by sophomore Jorit Loehr (Bremen, Germany), who came on strong in the second half of last year. He scored seven goals and notched three assists after he was moved from the back line to up front late in the 2007 campaign. His stellar play earned him a spot on the All-CAA second team as well as the All-Rookie squad.

Senior Andrew Dykstra (Woodbridge, Va.) will be the man between the pipes for the third straight season. The veteran keeper started all 20 contests last year and allowed just 18 goals while recording 56 saves and five shutouts.

After falling in the CAA semifinals last year, VCU will look to get back into the NCAA Tournament in 2008 and have no easy road to that goal as they will start the season against the defending national champion Wake Forest on August 29th in a 5 p.m. contest.